WEBVTT MARK: VICKI, ERIC, IT WAS GUNS,THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH, FROMHANDGUNS TO SHOTGUNS TOSEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLES.>> THE VICTORY PARK CRIPS ARE AVIOLENT, EXTREMELY VIOLENT,LOUISVILLE-BASED STREET GANG. MARK: THE 44-COUNT INDICTMENTTARGETS THE GUN TRADE OF THEVICTORY PARK CRIPS, AND NAMESFIVE PEOPL, CHICOBY SUMMERS, SHELBYSTRONG, JERLEN HORTON, DERRICKHAMMOND AND LAKESHIA WATTS.>> THEY USE THESE FIREARMS FORPURPOSES OF INTIMIDATION OFOTHER GANGS, FOR REPRISALS, FORNARCOTICS TRAFFICKING, TOFURTHER THEIR NARCOTICSACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS FORPRESTIGE. MARK: STRONG WAS ASTRAW BUYER, ACCORDING TO THEINDICTMENTS, SOMEONE WITH NOCRIMINAL RECORD WHO WAS ABLE TOPURCHASE AT LEAST 32 GUNS.INVESTIGATORS SAY THOSE GUNSWERE GIVEN TO SUMMERS, HORTONAND HAMMOND, WHO ACCORDING TOTHE INDICTMENT, ARE KNOWNMEMBERS OF THE VICTORY PARKCRIPS.>> TOGETHER, WE'VE BEEN WORKINGTO ADDRESS THE UPTICK IN VIOLENTCRIME HERE IN LOUISVILLE OVERTHE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.WHILE NOT ALL OF THAT CRIME ISATTRIBUTED TO GANG ACTIVITY, ASIGNIFICANT PORTION IS.MARK: MULTIPLE AGENCIES WORKEDTOGETHER TO BRING ABOUT THEFEDERAL CHARGES.>> CHARGES THAT WILL POTENTIALLYRESULT IN LONG, LONG TIMES INPRISON WILL SEND A SIGNIFICANTCHILLING EFFECT TO PEOPLE, IBELIEVE, MAY WANT TO STEP UP ANDTAKE THOSE LEADERSHIP ROLES INGANGS AND OTHER CRIMINALORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.MARK: THE VICTORY PARK CRIPSOPERATE IN LOUISVILLE'SCALIFORNIA NEIGHBORHOOD.BUT COLEMAN SAYS THEY AREN'T THEONLY GANG UNDER INVESTIGATION.>> THIS IS A DOWN PAYMENT ONWHAT I HOPE WILL BE MYRIAD,MULTIPLE ANNOUNCEMENTS, SIMILAR

According to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky Russell Coleman, members of Victory Park Crips used people with no convictions to buy guns "to aid narcotics trafficking, preserve and protect power and reputation by intimidation and violence against rival gangs."

Coleman called the Victory Park Crips "an extremely violent Louisville-based street gang" and said their activities have driven recent rise in homicides.

Charges in the indictment include conspiracy to possess a firearm by a prohibited person, conspiring to corruptly obstruct, influence and impede an official proceeding and engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license.

Unlike past roundups of Victory Park Crips members in Louisville, this indictment focuses on their illegal gun trade, as opposed to drug dealing and murders. The indictment makes it clear that the gun trade fueled other endeavors.

Stuart Lowrey, special agent in charge of local ATF branch, reiterated that this is one of many collaborative investigations underway targeting sources of firearm supplies.

"This is not a spiking of the ball. This is a down payment on what I hope will be myriad similar announcements," Coleman said.

According to indictment, Strong was the straw buyer, while Hammond, Summers and Horton were "closely associated with the Victory Park Crips." Watts lived with Horton.

Agencies that participated in the investigation into the Victory Park Crips include the Louisville Metro Police Department, FBI, ATF, US Attorney’s Office and Commonwealth's Attorney’s Office.